Sangean WFR-20 Wi-Fi Internet Radio and Network Music Player, Front View.
This Sangean WFR-20 review discusses this once popular WiFi internet radio. It resembles a classic tabletop radio from the 1970s in terms of size. However, it has fewer knobs than those old timers (only one knob, in fact). Plus it plays MP3 and AAC radio streams, and has the sound of a full-size hi-fi stereo music system.
Wide and robust stereo sound characterize this unit. Plus, it has thousands of internet stations programmed into it. It comes with a small yet full-function remote control.
This average size yet big sounding music system is stand alone, with an integrated audio amplifier and stereo speakers. The WiFi antenna is non removable, so you don’t lose it. And this radio has an intuitive user interface (once you learn to access all functions on a single knob). It offers an easy-to-read, white-violet back lit liquid crystal display (LCD). The surprisingly high contrast screen approaches those 20th century LED displays many of us grew up reading.
This receiver has been around for nearly two decades now. So the no longer make this radio as of this writing. So we recommend that you not buy it if you find this on eBay or amazon for a good price. Why? Because without modification, it will not work. But when active, we talked with the personnel that manage Reciva station lists. We have requested the addition of new stream URLs to their lists. We found them cordial, pleasant to deal with, and immediately responsive. They added our suggestions within hours of asking.
The WFR-20 is about the average size for a clock radio. It measures approximately 11.5 inches long, and 4.5 inches tall, including its scratch-free feet. It weighs five pounds, one ounce. Perhaps a bit heaver than typical radios. Probably due to the rugged plastic case and large magnets in the speakers. But for this little extra weight, you get plenty of volume. And the sound you hear easily qualifies as “high fidelity” stereo sound.
You can manage all radio functions with this front panel knob. Some of these are volume, bass, treble, sleep timer, snooze, and station search and selection.
The remote is about the right size for comfortable fitting into most small to average sized hands. It features ten buttons as follows.
The external antenna, though non removable, adjusts over a wide range of positions to ensure reliable wireless network connections. The wireless radio inside seems reasonably sensitive and powerful. So if there’s a decently strong Wi-Fi network in range, this device will typically connect to it with ease.
Back panel ports and plugs include the power supply, Ethernet, line in, and sub woofer / earphone output plugs. These include an Ethernet port, AUX in, line out, headphone out, and the 120-volt AC (35 watt) power connection.
Resembling a little boom box, the WFR-20 features two full-range dynamic speakers. The tuned port hole we find on the back.
The unit has a jog wheel menu system. Plus, there are several buttons on the remote. These let you navigate through settings from across the room.
However, most of the functions may also be controlled by the remote control, pictured below, and basic streaming functionality can be controlled also, from your Internet-connected computer on the Sangean Internet Portal Site (by Reciva).
Pretty full bass. But the WFR-20 lacks the really deep low-frequency response we hear in other music centers. These include the Denon S-32 and the Logitech Squeezebox Boom.
Still though this player offers 5 watts of total audio power. 2.5 watts per channel. This is a typical power amount for a tabletop radio. Exceptional sound for speech. Plus, you get accurate sound for well-recorded high fidelity music recordings and streams. Amazing considering this radio’s compact size.
In the near decade that we’ve owned this Wi-Fi media player, Internet radio stations have always played, on demand. Or if they did not, it was a station problem, and not with the Reciva stream database portal.
You can connect to any 802-11 b/g wireless network, or via an Ethernet network cable, to any in-range access point.
You can adjust bass and treble levels via the control knob and on-screen menus system, or from the remote control.
You can set up to four alarms. Furthermore, for each one, you can set not only the time of day it sounds. But also what day(s) of the week it sounds. You can also pick what sound (buzzer, AUX input, or station stream) it plays. Finally, the display shows a small analog clock face when one or more alarms are in effect. It appears in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Plus, the beep style buzzer starts off rather quietly, but gradually increases in volume until you hear it and respond. No startling wake-ups here.
Via the menu, you can set how long you’d like the radio to play. You set the sleep timer in 15 minute increments. Ant its range is from zero time to three hours and fifteen minutes.
With a working internet connection, the built-in clock sets itself to internet time. This happens in seconds of pressing the power-on button.
You can adjust display brightness, fonts, and time formats in the Settings menu.
You work the jogging control to move around through the previous, next, and play buttons. Plus, you can move around the internet station and podcast lists from the radio itself in the same way. So you don’t need a computer to enjoy the bulk of the radio’s functionality. But you do need a web browser to set up the radio prior to first play.
You can play MP3, WAV, WMA, and AAC formatted audio streams. However, we haven’t been able to find any AAC+ streams that this receiver plays.
Only the area close to the knob on the front of the case becomes lukewarm. The rest of the unit stays cool. It remains cool to the touch even after hours of music listening. No doubt a testament to the high efficiency circuitry inside.
Requires respective accounts on these services prior to playing.
All WFR-20s linked to the same Reciva account receive the same favorites, podcasts, and playlists from the portal. You may also create separate Reciva accounts for each WFR-20 you own. This allows your husband or children to configure their radio according to their own tastes.
New copies of the WFR-20 sell for around $230 on amazon.com, and this player is widely available around the Internet.
This radio began its market rein in around 2008. But it no longer appears on Sangean’s web site. And the Reciva platform upon which this radio depends is no longer in existence. But while the WFR-20 is missing some key features of today’s internet radios, it still sounds great. How so? You can still use it as an an audio amp. In fact, we connect various Alexa speakers to it with an AUX cable. Then this gives much of the internet radio features that the unit had before Reciva went away.
The included remote is so thin that it often slips between couch cushions. So, you lose track of it easily. This remote has no find-remote feature.
Unlike an antique car radio, the WFR-20 has no station select push buttons. Instead, to play your favorites, you must be able to see the radio’s LCD screen. From there, choose each station from the scrolling three-line menu. This is a rather small window into the huge world of internet stations.
We find no place on this music system to plug in, control, or charge your iPod devices. No iPod docking or lightning connector. However, you can play the iPod through the auxiliary input port. This requires a 3.5mm male to 3.5mm male stereo patch cord.
This radio does not currently play AAC+ (Advanced Audio Coding Plus) audio streams. Unfortunate since a growing number of the popular Internet radio stations encode with this low-bandwidth yet high-fidelity codec. However, this music system does play earlier versions of AAC streams. Thus, you can still enjoy among the best-sounding streams available today.
The WFR-20 does not include a built in AM / FM radio. It just plays internet streams. It also streams audio files from network enabled storage devices on your local network. Furthermore, it can act as an integrated amplifier for AUX audio sources via the AUX input on the back.
You cannot pair your Bluetooth speakers with the WFR-20. However, the radio does have an AUX out jack. This way, you can plug a cable between the radio and Bluetooth speakers that have an AUX input. So in this wired way, you can play the radio through a so-equipped BT speaker.
The single-knob saves space on the radio front. Why? Because you need no other controls to access the radio’s every feature. But entering a Wi-Fi network password can take lots of time. Password entry requires turning this knob to find the right letters and numbers in a data entry menu. Then you press it to select each character. And finally, you press it once more to commit the password to memory.
It’s been at least three years since we received any new firmware. So it’s not clear if they’re still developing new functionality for this Wi-Fi radio.
With the current firmware, just plugging in the radio does not set the clock. The displayed clock time starts off at 1:00 AM. However, the clock sets itself to correct time quickly upon radio activation.
This radio does NOT run downloadable apps (like those found on smartphones). Such apps are useful as they provide access to even more audio sources besides internet radio stations. Sound effects, and players for many of the major media outlets do not fully play on the WFR 20.
Many Internet stations have migrated to Advanced Audio Coding stream format. This format has better audio frequency response at lower data rates. Fortunately though, most bigger stations still broadcast in the older format MP3 and first generation AAC. However, as this legacy support fades, this radio will grow less usable over time.
This would reduce the need for manual network password entry. Handy because character entry with the single knob is a pain.
We’re happy with the huge aural sensations and stereo performance of the Sangean WFR-20. Wo we suggest listening to it with your eyes closed. Notice the speakers seem further apart than they actually are. So this gives a more immersive listening experience. Indeed, the instruments and voices seem to come from “phantom” speakers – places where no speakers exist.
Nice that Sangean and Reciva once upon a time, committed to long-term support of the WFR-20. Why? Because this radio sounds so good and seems built so well, that it’d be a shame to have give it up.
The comments in this review apply to the radios running the following firmware units:
The WFR-20 no longer functions as an internet radio since the Reciva portal no longer exists.
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